Bobert- I'd love to be able to pay for straw. We use hay; usually someone else's free old winter house banking. Straw would be much better, but it isn't in the budget. The woodstove has a cold air inlet, so we're all set once the thing is installed. If it didn't we'd have to open a window.

kat- You are welcome to celebrate as you wish. We will, for the most part, still be rough camping even after we move in, whenever that may be. I hope we have many sunny days so the passive solar gain overpowers the lack of good dry firewood. I suspect I'll soon be tired of seeing insulation on walls instead of plaster, but we'll be grateful for them nonetheless.

Nancy- Thanks for being interested. I confess the process is still less exciting for us than it is for others; we know we're still a long way from being home. We did tried out the acoustics and loved the sound. Even without wallboard, inner walls, or echo-softening textiles, it is glorious.

It is a joyful and holy space for us.